HSE official claims 'Grace' allegations 'debunked' by commission
A HSE official said 'lurid allegations' about a vulnerable woman at the centre of abuse allegations had been 'debunked' by a commission of investigation into her care.
An internal briefing note said the length of time and sky-high cost of the inquiry made it unlikely the government would carry out any further probe.
But it said claims raised in the Dail about 'Grace' living in a 'house of horrors' were reviewed by the commission and were unsupported.
The briefing said findings had 'flatly contradicted' statements made by the Fianna Fail TD John McGuinness.
It added: 'The allegations made by McGuinness and others should be a main topic and the rationale why such statements were made.'
The document also said the media would 'find it difficult to get an immediate steer' on the findings because of its vast scope.
It added that one area the HSE was likely to come under attack over was the handling of requests for records under Freedom of Information laws.
The briefing – sent to HSE chief Bernard .Gloster – said this had been 'utterly inexcusable'.
It added: 'There were delays which were inexcusable and were caused by confusion rather than any effort to subvert.' Mr McGuinness said he stood over the claims he made about Grace's care.
He added: '[The commission] is to deny and deflect and to try and discredit somebody who was central to the questioning of their officials right from the very beginning.
'It exposes the culture within the HSE, which is to deny everything. I wasn't just saying those things; I didn't just make that up.
'I was given that information by whistleblowers, by family members, by other staff who had concerns.' The internal HSE briefing said there was likely to be significant focus on the cost of the inquiry, bills for which are already in the order of nearly €14 million.
It added that was before the HSE claimed for costs and excluded internal staff time bills. It added: 'The cost and duration of the commission should mitigate against any political decision to progress to [the] next phase.'
An email from Mr Gloster marked 'strictly confidential' in advance of publication said he wanted information on the status and care arrangements of all 47 individuals referred to.
Mr Gloster said he was seeking a panel of people to review the report to determine whether any current serving officials of the HSE would need to be dealt with under 'accountability procedures.'
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